What's Next

I have Registered, What’s Next?

Thank you again for your interest in our fiber internet service!

You should have received an email welcoming you and confirming that we received your registration. If you need to check the status or progress of your installation, please reach out to us and let us know and we would be happy to assist. (870) 777-3000

Tell your neighbors about our service and encourage them to sign up.

What is Hope Water & Light building?

We have built a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network – the gold standard of communications transmission – over our existing electric distribution infrastructure that will take fiber directly into homes and businesses and deliver reliable, high-speed internet and phone services.

What is fiber internet anyway, and why is it better?

A fiber connection gets its name from the small glass fibers used to transmit data. Information can be transmitted through these glass fibers as pulses of light and are capable of carrying large amounts of data much faster than other internet technology. Fiber offers the most secure, dependable, and fastest upload and download speeds available now and in the future!

What is the difference between fiber internet and what I have now?

FTTH networks have many advantages over current technologies. The key benefit is that it provides for far faster connection speeds and carrying capacity than twisted pair conductors, DSL, or coaxial cable. Fiber cables also provide for a higher degree of reliability. Because fiber cables are made from glass, they don't generate electricity or need grounding which makes them resistant to atmospheric and electrical interference. Fiber networks are also the most "future-proof" networks. Optical networks are upgraded by changing the electronics that create the light pulses on the cable and not by replacing the cables.

What is the timeframe and scope of the buildout?

We have completed the buildout, this 2-year FTTH buildout, encompassing 300 miles of fiber, has reached 100 percent of our customers served by an electric meter. The buildout has provided state-of-the-art access to broadband benefits for ALL homes and businesses within our electric service area.

Where will the internet service be offered?

Service is available to 100% of our customers. You can check availability for your address and register for service at Hope Broadband Portal.

How do I sign up for service?

Hope Water & Light’s Hope Broadband Portal allows anyone to enter their address to determine if the household or business is in the service area. 

Getting Service

How much will these services cost?

Hope Water & Light is providing high-quality service at affordable rates. Our rates are competitive and stable. There is no “introductory rate” change that will switch six months or a year later. We strive to keep our service simple, transparent, and affordable. Please refer to our Service Plan Page for more information.

Can I register for the internet service?

Yes. Potential subscribers are encouraged to register for services through the registration tool at Hope Broadband Portal. The tool will check availability at your address and allow you to pick the right plan for your home or business as well as let you view the terms and conditions and signoff on starting the contract online. An email will be sent to our broadband team after you complete the process and we will respond to let you know that we have received your submission of the internet services contract so that we can begin the process of setting up the new service to you.

Are there data caps with this service?

There are no data caps or bandwidth throttling (intentional slowing or speeding of internet service) with this service.

Will a contract be required?

Yes. During the registration process, you will fill out all vital information as necessary to begin the contract and the terms and conditions will be shown and allow you to accept them and sign off on them online. Please be sure to read the terms and conditions of the contract very carefully and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us. (870) 777-3000

Can internet service be installed at my business?

Hope Water and Light offers commercial services to connect your business with fiber internet. Commercial rates and customized quotes are available to meet your specific needs.

What is involved in the process of building a fiber-to-the-home network?

Construction of a fiber network is a complex process involving numerous contractors and is dependent on a number of variables that include the length of the circuit, terrain and soils, weather, and other external factors. Most distribution lines are a mix of overhead and underground construction. Construction is divided into six phases for an overhead distribution project.

• Step 1: Make Ready Engineering – Two-to-Four-Week Process
  
  The project begins with the design of the fiber build. Once the design is set, field engineers determine if modifications to any poles are required to support the fiber and the steel strand that accompanies it. Poles may need to be moved to make more space, or they may need to be replaced with stronger or taller poles. During the first phase, inspectors will also “ride out” the build, visiting every location throughout the project area and making notations of changes that may need to be made. During make-ready engineering and assessment, we also make sure every member in the territory is included in the build. This phase can take two to four weeks.
  
  
• Step 2: Make Ready Construction – Four-to-12-Week Process
  
  The timeline for make-ready construction can vary widely, typically from one-to-three months. During this phase, crews make the changes necessary to accommodate fiber. Line crews change poles, move transformers from one side of the pole to another, move wires on the pole, add new anchors to the poles, and perform other work to allow the fiber to be placed during the fiber construction phase.
  
  
• Step 3: Fiber Construction – Four-to-Eight-Week Process
  
  Fiber crews will begin the process of adding fiber-optic cable and steel strands to pole lines throughout the community. This process can vary whether electric lines are above or below ground. If underground, asphalt and concrete driveways will be bored under. A pedestal may be placed next to a transformer or junction box to allow for a service drop. Fiber construction can take four to eight weeks in the designated zone.
  
  
• Step 4: Main Line Splicing – Three-to-Six-Week Process
  
  Once both the strand and fiber are placed and secured, splicing can begin. Splicing can take three to six weeks for the main lines. In this phase, splicing technicians splice the necessary cables at each end and tap point and mount them in enclosures secured to the distribution poles or in pedestals.
  
  
• Step 5: Service Drop Construction
  
  Service drop construction may be done simultaneously with some of the previously mentioned steps, or it may not be done until after the mainline fiber is in place. In this phase, the drop crews extend the fiber from the nearest splice point to the structure receiving service and leave coils of fiber in each location.
  
  
• Step 6: Drop Splicing
  
  Drop splicing is the next to last step of the process. The splicing technician connects the last length of the fiber at the tap point and mounts a network interface device (NID) at the structure with the final splice inside it.
  
  *After drop splicing is completed, the network is now ready to be turned over for in-home installation to start receiving service.
  
  
• Step 7: Installation
  
  One of our representatives will contact you to schedule your in-home install. During installation, the fiber is connected to a fiber jack inside your home or office, where it’s plugged into the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) we provide. Once the installation is complete and tested, your service is ready to go. Welcome to the world of high-speed internet!

How will Hope Water & Light run fiber to my location?

If overhead electric service is available, we will follow the same route. If electric service to your home or business is underground, we will use the existing route where possible. If necessary, Hope Water & Light will trench new underground service to the home or business.

The Benefits

Why are you offering broadband service?

Our communities have long suffered from a lack of broadband equality – access to the same speeds and capabilities as those in less rural areas. Broadband availability across our service area will help close the digital divide between those who have access to advanced technology and those who do not. A few of the many advantages of broadband access are:

• Online Education Opportunities
  Allowing students to learn from home
  
  
• Healthcare Benefits
  Services such as telemedicine
  
  
• Work-From-Home, Interoffice Connectivity & Videoconferencing
  Capabilities that will help professionals stay in their homes while being productive
  
  
• Quality of life improvements
  Faster, more reliable, enhanced communications
  
  
• Economic development and growth in rural areas
  Access to high-speed internet can raise home prices and attract businesses to communities

In addition, by connecting Hope Water & Light’s electric substations and offices with fiber, we will create a smart grid with more automation capabilities to better serve our customers. Smart grid capabilities – the standard for optimum electric infrastructure – allows our devices to communicate with each other and delivers benefits such as improved power outage response times, better load balancing, more efficient electricity delivery, and more.

How will I benefit from fiber internet access? 

Our sole reason for offering high-speed internet services is to meet the needs of customers like you. You will no longer have to rely on DSL, fixed wireless, cable modems or satellite internet to stay connected online. You will be able to stream high-definition media smoothly and quickly, have the data capacity to download and upload data such as files, photos, and videos at super-fast speeds, and have access to the latest technological advancements and applications. Our FTTH world-class service will be reliable, affordable, and backed by your local trusted utility.

You will be able to run multiple devices – such as cell phones, computers, and laptops – simultaneously in your home or business without decreased download and upload speeds. The table below gives you a speed comparison between what you may have now and what is possible with FTTH.

*Download speeds calculated using the following averages:

• Digital Photo - 3.15 MB
• HD Movie - 6 GB
• Song - 3.5 MB
• Game - 50 GB